Anti-rail-spreading device.



M. BARROW. ANTLRAIL-SPREADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY}, 1914.

1 1 03,02 1 Patented July 14, 191% amounted THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTnN, D. Q

JAMES MONROE BARB-OW, OF ATHENS, LOUISIANA.

ANTI-RAIL-SPREADING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Application filed May 1, 1914:. Serial No. 835,755.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs Monnon BAR- ROW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Athens, in the parish of Claiborne and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Anti-Rail-Spreading Device; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an anti-rail spreading device, and an object of the invention is the provision of a device of this nature, involving improved features of construction, and which is simple and efficient in construction.

In practical fields the details of construction may be subjected to alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional View, showing parts in elevation, illustrating the anti-rail spreading device as applied. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the anti-rail spreader detached, illustrating two of the clamps raised. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings 1 and 2 designate the rails, 3 the usual form of tie, while & denotes the transversely disposed bar of the anti-rail spreader. This bar is arranged underneath the rails adjacent the bases thereof, and is provided with a pair of stationary rail clamps 5 and 6. The rail clamp 5 is designed to engage the outer face of one of the rails, While the clamp 6 engages the inner face of the opposite rails. These clamps 5 and 6 are duplicates in construction, each comprising a body portion 7 which is U-shaped in cross section, the flanges 8 engage on opposite sides of said bar at, bolts 9 passing therethrough to hold the body portion in place. Rising from the body portion and extending toward the web and the base of the rail is a tongue 10, which braces and reinforces the rail in position. Clamps 11 and 12 are provided, which are somewhat similar to the clamps 5 and 6 in their general construction, with the exception that the clamps 11 and 12 are pivotally mounted at 13 by means of bolts on the bar 4, and in the U-shaped body portion a transverse rib 14 is constructed, which engages a transverse recess or groove 15 in the bar 4. This tongue or rib and groove or recess connection constitutes means to relieve the strain upon the bolt 13, that is, when the clamps 11 and 12 are thrown downwardly with their tongues (which are designated by the same character of the tongue of the stationary clamps) against the base and the web of the rails. When the clamps 11 and 12 are thrown downwardly, bolts 16 pass through the flanges of the U-shaped body portion and through the bar 4 for holding the same so arranged. The rib or tongue and groove or recess connection not only relieves the strain on the bolt 13, but also relieves the strain on the bolt 16. By this improved construction of device, the rails are held rigidly and firmly in position, and braced and reinforced against undue spreading of the rails. A plurality of anti-rail spreading devices may be employed at various intervals along the railroad, in order to hold the rails reinforced and braced and evenly spaced equi distance apart.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In combination, a bar having a pair of stationary rail clamps, one to clamp against the outer face of one rail, the other to clamp against the inner face of the opposite rail, a pair of additional rail clamps pivoted to said bar, each of which adapted to cooperate with each of the other clamps for holding and bracing each rail, and means for holding each pivoted clamp downwardly and against the rail, and means for relieving the strain upon the bolts of the pivoted clamps.

2. In combination, a bar having a pair of stationary rail clamps, one to clamp against the outer face of one rail, the other to clamp against the inner face of the opposite rail, a pair of additional rail clamps pivoted tosaid bar, each of which adapted to cooperate with each of the other clamps for holding and bracing each rail, and means for holding each pivoted clamp downwardly and against the rail, said bar having grooves name to this specification in the presence of adjacent the pivoted clamps, said pivoted two subscribing Witnesses. clamps having tongues or ribs to engage said grooves, and constituting means to relieve JAMES MONROE BARROW' the strain upon the bolts of the pivoted Witnesses: clamps. s F. M. DANCE,

In testimony whereof I have signed my F. K. CALDWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

